Maria Pearson, Britain's longest-serving female prisoner, is set to be released after spending 39 years behind bars for the brutal murder of her love rival. The Parole Board has ruled that the 70-year-old from Hartlepool no longer poses a risk to the public.
Details of the crime
Pearson was jailed for life in 1987 for murdering 23-year-old Janet Newton, her ex-boyfriend's new partner, the previous year. At the time of the killing, Pearson was 31. She tracked Ms Newton's movements and stabbed her 17 times in what the trial judge described as a "cruel and vicious" murder.
According to a newly published Parole Board decision summary, Pearson was in a bigamous relationship at the time of the offence. She remained legally married to her first husband while also married to a second man. The panel heard that Pearson feared losing her home and custody of a child after her second husband began a relationship with Ms Newton and decided to annul their marriage.
Parole hearings and release conditions
Although Pearson was ordered to serve a minimum term of 12 years, which expired in October 1998, she remained in prison for nearly three decades after that. She spent periods in an open prison but was twice returned to higher-security conditions due to concerns about her behaviour. The latest hearing was the 10th time the Parole Board considered her release, with proceedings taking place in January and May 2026.
In its decision, the panel described it as "a finely balanced decision" before concluding that Pearson could safely be released. The summary stated: "The panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public and that she poses no more than a minimal risk of further serious offending."
Pearson will be released on licence under strict conditions, including living at a designated address, observing a curfew enforced by electronic tagging for 12 months, and complying with restrictions to prevent any contact with the victim's family. If she breaches any conditions or her risk increases, she can be recalled to prison.
